Machine for holding and sealing coaxially supported parts



s. J. GARTNER 2,661,576

MACHINE FOR HOLDING AND SEALING COAXIALLY SUPPORTED PARTS Dec. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 24, 1946 BYaffJM/M Dec. 8, 1953 'l s. J. GARTNER 2,661,576

MACHINE FOR. HOLDING AND SEALING COAXIALLY SUPPORTED .PARTS Filed Ded. 24, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Stanley :IGM/ler s. J. GARTNER 2,661,576

MACHINE FOR HOLDING AND SEALING COAXIALLY SUPPORTED PARTS Dec. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 194e IN V EN TOR. Sl'anley d Gardner B Y 2M/@21% li'sHttor/vey Patented Dec. 8, 1953 VUNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE vof Massachusetts "'5 "Cl`aims. 1 This inventionrelates to ythevmanufa cture of radio tubesand likewdevices.

' AmongtheA objects ofr .theinventionsrareito provide: new .and qusefulf chucks ysuitable.l for spindles in processing fapparatusysan improved .form of chuck for gripizfing a glassfexhaust tube; a, chuck forv reliablyggrippingbrittle farticles-f with afminimum of.` impact; a -pairl -of coaxial,A chucks tov gripV a pair of..assembledupartslwith thesup- .porting and or'exvatirig mechanism ofnbothichucks located at. the lsameeendof the parts assembly; a chuck. the.jawssoftwhichfmay beinterposed in the path of ,fiamesfwithout impairing the :uniform heating. of theparts gripped; and an organization, having generallyoimproved features, `for lmaking aglass sealbetweerra pair-loincylindricalparts.

The illustrative f rfembodimentxof a the invention is for; sealing vtogether -a fshellwcandaa mount `to constitu-te. an-uxneyacuated envelope encasing electrodes; in `awell-known: process ofi .manufacturing radiotubesian'd thelikezdevices. In: this process the shellrisusually azglass:cylinderzclosed .at one end, althoughitmaybexof'zmetal havingxits edgepreparedforgaiglass seal; and thea mount is made up toa cupped or, flat,v glass-headerlarge enough to close .ttheg open 'ends lof the zgshell, a .number ofv metal leadsiextendingfperperidieularly through the header, ther. electrodes: or monnt -L 'assembly 'supported'nn the' leads .above the l header, .andi an'fexhaust. tube:extending1-centrally :from below theL-hea'der. Theunitcomprisingzthe exhaust tube, the header; and .ithe:.^metal zfleads, beforethe mount4 assembly. is, attached, isitermed the stem',:. although thef.' entiref l.asseriiblysafter the mount, assembly is attachedds frequently called the stem` (rathe'than'the mount as defined labore). In describingfthe;,rillustrativeeembdiiment of Vv:theinventionz:the#terms Vif.mountaiar'1d `fstemilare usedinterchangeably.

*In priorf art2 sealingmachineslthereawerezmulti- "ple'lspindles each comprisingra stemchuckrandaa 'ishellf chuckgf the r'sterrr chucks `being-learned.: byaa turret andE thesliel1''chucks'1being: axially .aligned fwithlthe stem fchu'cksfand; carried `frorniaponder- Qous-fsuperstructureg to ex-poselfiaheV4 opposedlfshell :and A"stemffedges 1to'fthe' sealing'fiiames. LItf ist-.a iurth-er'bbject'foi-the Ypresenttinvention toi-felim-imate-the superstructure, :forimany:attendantV adrfvantages ,flwithout ffimpairingthe upiioficieneyf fof the sealing'machine.

Further* features 'offnoveltyflandfobjects fwill 'bel apparent? -fsromf theE ifo'lloWingffdeta'iled disclo- Lvsure'bi a lpreferredferfnbodiment of-the" invention l`with referencet -the attacheddrawingsiwherein:

Figiv 1-is'a planvview'lof-laf spindle comprising "ceaxialichickserhbodyingtheinvention;

j E ig. 2 isasectional Myiewalongtheline \2- 2e1of` "Fig lA "illustrating angu'eferred 4form *of exhausttubeohuck;

j`Eig; 3 is a: longitudinal sectional'view alongthe lines-3 of mail;

i Fig. 4 is ai' fragmentary; planyiewfor theemachine;

'Fig. 5 is asectionaLview along the -l-ineQ-'eS 'Fig. 6 lis. a' .1detai1ed,Viennot at mechanism for reciprocating;V the exhaustftubechuck-during--the formation offthe' `headVer--toj-"sliell:seal;

Fig. '1 is ajfragmentary sectional. View ksimilar to Eig.' 3, withjgthe partsishown' intheir-coniigdie showing amodiedformjof shell chuckjaws.

, Ref erringsnow. to .the idrawings. `the, preferred forms of envelope.:chuck, exhaustetube jchuck',

and.the.arrangementffihese two chucks inrelatiOntQ-.each other andto'theiipperatingjmechanismswill bedescribed. ,Theassemblyofjchucks andtheirfsupports are mountedjforfrotation; and

the spindle by nieansofithree jaws.; I0. :The 'shell vis held in. axial alignment'. with Ua stem (comprisme htademPI;A exhaustttub.; .externa1 pins. 35

and amount assemblywithinthe shellLsoljthat iiame `from -.burnersBxJnausoften .thea-.opposed edges offthe ,header andthe shellto form ase'aled envelope. -.The header; :fis .Supportedand i the, ex-

haust tube,` is grippe on ,the spiridle which is intermittently f indexedffwith.. turret I I (Fig. 4) AtA most.positions of;` theturret.; each..spindle, is rotated ab out itsaxis. Rotation: of-fi each. of.l the spindles iseiectedby means of-stile jusualgiriction, clutch 11 2 which. is engaged-With pinion .4,.fmaintained ,inV rotation when the spindle .Y in fthe firing positions4 .by

the, turret .,by means. of bushing- 2 1- Pinion .1I 4 isrdtatablaon member, -I 8.

r-With pinion Ill-finfrotation; clutchflzfis arrested under;r` certain circumstancesto flock,l thefspi-ndle, by a :latchy (not shown) djacent thea turret.

v Above the stun-et bearipgsblockp Z2; f o .each 5610i :the: spindles Iihroilehfwhieh, luhricatimfmay ibesuppliedgzto thea-respective; members I8 by 3 oil cups 24. Bushings 20 are externally threaded at their upper ends and flanged at their lower ends, so that they can be locked to the turret by castellated nuts 26 thus clamping blocks 22 inplace..

Each member I8 has" an annular rib 3U supported on washer 28 above bushing 20, and contains a shaft 3| for supporting header H and for operating the gripper for exhaust tube T. Above each rib 30 there is a mechanism for `supporting and operating jaws I0 for the shells.

Shell chuck Vopposed portions of shell S and header I-I. However, for the purposes of the present invention the supporting and operating mechanisms for the jaws are located below the header support.

In this way it is feasible to reduce the over-all vheight and mass of the equipment, to improve the accessibility of the spindles, and generally to simplify the operating mechanisms. Shell jaws ||l are supported from below and, in one form are bowed outward, resembling question marks, contacting the shell S at their upper eX- tremities, Jaws I0 are transverselyvstreamlined at the level of the burners B in the direction of the flame (Fig. 10) for uniform heating of the glass edges and (later) the seal. streamlining jaws l0 might form a baffle at three parts of the seal opposite the three jaws shown. In a modiedconstruction the jaws ma are streamlined but not bowed (Fig. l1).

Two of the jaws l0' have two points at which they contact shell S whereas the third has but a single point of contact. In this way the twopoint jaws form a sort of vertical cradle for supporting shell S against the pressure applied by the single-point-of-contact jaw when all three jaws are pressed towar-d each other.

Jawsy I0 are supported. on blocks 32 for vertical .adjustment by means of screw 34 in block 32.

Each of .the jaws is slotted at 36 to accommodate this screw, and each of the jawsis conned withy in a vertical groove in block 32 (Fig. 5).

Jaws I0 are so supported and operated as to allow the header support to raise the radio tube with its 4complete seal into a position of clearance for removal (Fig. 7) and to allow renewed Vloading of.,a stem and of a shell thereon The assembly is. then lowered properly within jaws |0 and the shell is gripped. According to the present invention the shellY jaws are supported and operated from below in such manner as to cause them to approach radiallyV and without` any pivotal swing toward the spindle axis. This yis an important consideration, for with appreciable swing the jaws would "develop considerable momentum. This would result in hazardous impact when the ,jaws engageshell S which commonly is of glass.

The support and operating mechanism to be describedis provided so that the jaws may be controlled from a position not merely below their point of engagement with the shell S but also below the level'of burner B.

Each block 32, which carries its jaw |0, is mounted for substantially horizontal shifting o n pairs of leaf'springs 38, these leaf springs functioning as a parallel linkage to restrict jaws l0 against pivotal motion, and to restore jaws|8` to the position iii Fig. 7 when released -by the operating mechanism. At their lower extremities But for this.

springs 38 are secured to support 45 which is, in turn, secured to rotary tubular member |8 by means of a set-screw 42 (Fig. 2).

Support 40 pivotally carries one lever 44 for each of the three-jaws `||l. "At'i'tsjupper end each lever 44 contacts a depending portion 46 of block 32. At its lower end each lever 44 carries an adjustment screw 48 and lock nut, which screw transmits thrust from arm 50 to lever 44 and the jaws I0, There are three arms 50, one for each lever 44, supported on ring 52 which is slideable along tubular member I8 and is normally depressed'against rib 3D by compression spring 54. Ring 52 is restricted against rotation with respect'to member I8 by key 56 (Fig. 2) confined within opposed keyways in ring 52 and member I8. Ring 52 of each of the spindles is grooved at 58 for snug engagementby yoke 60 (Figs. 1,

3, 4 and 7) clamped to the upper end of slideable rod 52 at the lower end of which is a socket and an anti-friction ball 66. 'Ihis rod is slideable in lubricated bushing 54 which is clamped within a slotted bore in block 22.

In operation, the spindles are carried intermittently in a circular path around the machine from 'wise', and moving all three jaws IE! into contact with shell S. This motion occurs just as camfollower 56 drops off cam 68 (Fig. 9). The springand-weight assembly causes firm engagement of the jaws with shell S, yet resiliency of the leaf springs and the jaws accommodates variations in the diameter of the shell. Jaws l5 move through a relatively short path into contact with the shell, the upper ends ofthe jaws traveling the same distance as blocks 32 and in a parallel path. The impact of the jaws as they contact shell S is vastly reduced as compared to the impact of any practical form of jaws which move pivotally toward the shell.

' W hen rod 52 is raised, leaf -spring 36 moves jaws I0 radially outward to release the shell.'

Stem chuck and support Header I-I is' supported on a ring i0 which forms partV of an adapter 'lzjsecured by set screw 14 to the upper endof innermost tube 3|V of the spindle. Ring/'I0 is spaced from Ythe body of adapter 12 by three legs 18, whereby preheating andY coolin'gfgases maybe directed against the bottom of header H. Exhaust tube T is protected against these gases by tubular baille 8|) which rests on'fthe. top of tube 3|, and forms part of the adapter. Certain aspects of Vthis Vadapter are disclosed and claimedin copending U. S. application Serial No. 693,146, filed August 26, 1946, by Clayton R. ACowley which issued as Patent No. 2,484,688, October 11, 1949. y

Tube 3| is slotted radially near'its top at three points, to accommodate an equal number of gripgpers 8| (Fig.15). indicated at` 83 in Fig. 8) lhas a greater axial extent at the outside surface of tube 3|l than Each slot, (one of which is along itsbore- 84gj thus .forming a Y step 18|. Extensions 82 on grippers 8| falling against a step such as|8| limit the inward grippers movement f-the*grippers-sofithattheycan not fallinto the boreoftube 3| Asleeve-`86-is 'slideablea'long vtube 3| 'and'surrounds'grippers 8|. Sleeve `86 is externally lshouldered at 88 vto provide a bearing surface against which-compressionspring 90 may actsoas normally 4to urge sleeve V85 upward. Spring 190 ireactsagainsta cup l`$32 keyed against rotation and resting-on a shoulder of Atube 3|. Sleeve i"8|'ha1s an -internal'shoulder -94 (Figs. 5 and f8). Between-shoulder 91| Vand a V-Shaped recess l96 'in each gripper I8| there is an interponent 198. When spring 16|) fis allowed to elongate, lthe interponent 9'8 of vFig. f8 is rotated clockwise 'into a more-or-less vhorizontal position, Iforcing Tthe :associated gripper #8| radially toward Yexhaust tube T. 'The othertwo grippers are simultaneously moved toward tube T. Sleeve 36 '-is .limited in itsupward -travel'bythe setting `Gfiadapter A'|2. Nevertheless, in the Yevent that the Aadapter is removed Vfor substitution, sleeve 86v will beprevented-from unintentionally sliding oiithe end of tube3| bythe coaction of interponents .Q8-with grippers 8|,and by these in turn with the radial slots in'tube 3|.

'Tube 3| is -providedwith a keyway 99 (Fig. 5) for key |00, and this key is constrained to move `:axially with sleeve 86 ibylvirtuevof extensien |04 just underneath Asleeve 86. 'overhanging portion |02 (Fig. 2) on key 1100 is adapted to resten-'shoulder 94 and arrest' upwardA movement-of sleevefilata-"predeterminedpoint inits travel. Keyway T53 extends axially along tube 3| to a point somewhat below rib 30. -Key |00 similarlyfextendsidownward along tube 3| and has another lateral extension |06. Tube I8 is relievedatits upper end (Fig. '2) to'accommodate a stop fllwwhich extends fromnxed ring 40 intokeyway 69 so as to limit the upward travel of lateral .extension |06.

.Theoperation of jaws |'0 hastbeen described above. fIt `will be recalled that, during therportion oflthecycle when thelheader and the envlopevarelto-beloaded into the upper end vof the spindle, as well as when .thefusefd product is'to be.removed.ro`d62 is elevated'to. raise the operating .ring'f52'for openingjaws |0 to the necessary extent. The parts are showninthis configuration in;Fig."7, from which it will be yapparent that jaws |"0 remain'at a constant level. 'While jaws I0 are open it is so arranged that the grippers 8| for exhaust tube T shall be released for movement radially outward, and adapter 12 shall be raised considerably relative to jaws |0 to facilitate loading and unloading operations. The mechanism described above for operating grippers 8| causes engagement thereof with exhaust tube T as soon as adapter 12 and its supporting tube 3| have commenced their descent, and maintains this engagement until the processing has been completed and elevation of tube 3| is nearly complete.

Tube 3| is maintained in the elevated position of Fig. 7 during the initial and the lnal portions of the cycles. This is effected by the engagement of .adjustable cam follower ||0, screwed to the lower end of tube 3|, with stationary cam track ||2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 9) on the machine base. So long as cam follower ||0 remains opposite a low portion of cam ||2 spring 90 is free to force sleeve 86 relatively upward and cause engagement of grippers 8| with exhaust tube T. However, when tube 3| is raised, key |00 is carried with it until lateral extension |06 is arrested by stop |08. This arrests the continued upward movement of sleeve 86 because por-tion 1F02 buttszvagainstfshoulder 94. "The relativefmotion-between sleeve 86 and-ascending .tube 3|, releases grippers 8| to permit removal vofnthe fused envelopeandinsertion of :ya new header H with its exhaust tube T. Tube 3| is permitted to rise a distance d (Fig. 2) while firmly .gripping theexhaust tube :and simil-arly to descend distance -d with the exhaust vtube gripped. When tube 3| is 'forced --above 'this limit 4the exhausttube chuck =is .opened to 'release or receive an exhaust tube.

The exhaust tube :chuck describedhas several important advantages Since it `is .independent of any large mass .for .'operation, its foperation vis relatively f'free of the shocks .which are to .betex.- pected fromlfth-e sudden application Yof a .gripperoperatingrweight lwhich Vcharacterizes .comparable prior far-tLmechanisms. The :gripper :described so operatesv as ttoaccommcdate exhaust'tubeiirregularities, yetit grips irmly, and` itis :effective-.during the fast verticalxtravel of the article jsupport. In `this .way it maintains the .header properly-seated on adapter .ring 10 for alignment with fthe burners, against inertia eifects during reciprocation of 'tube.3:|. .In pursuing myx-objective of supportingzthe:shellchuck .ID frombelow, I have provided the header support .withfaI long stroke, 4and SIhave devised :an .exhaust-tube chuck or. gripperthat. is eifectiveafter theinitial descent. of :the adapterand until the nal :pa-rt of .its subsequent ascent Cycle of .operations AReferring nowto Fig. i9 the :complete Gycleof operation of the sealing machine .will .beadescribed. .The timing-chartshown .there is-.divi'ded into 16 intervals, whereby leach of 1:6 kspindles may in `stepwise succession f bepositioned f at rany given processing station. .The Atiming 'chart actually shows the contour ofthe `stationary12am tracks mounted on the machinefbedalong-:Which cam followers 66 and ;||;0 fare fmoved by the spindle-supporting turret. During .the travel of the spindle fromfthe; iirstA tofthe: second stationin Fig; Y19jaws Hl .and 4grippersfl remain lretracted and-adapter 112 viselevatedabove jaws i |50. During this interval thespindles dornotrotate. Header I-I may be .inserted .and zshell S :may be Vplaced abovethe headerzwhiohiat this stagepflmainufacture carriesathe internal `electrodeyassembll' .of the radio tubeorlikegdevice. :During :thevtransit of any given spindle from the second to the third station, cam-follower ||0 travels along cam surface H2, initially causing grippers 8| to .engage exhaust tube T, and then lowering the shell-andheader assembly into position for engagement by jaws I0. At the third station, by virtue of the shape of cam 08 Which operates cam-follower 66, jaws I0 are moved rmly but with a minimum of impact into engagement with shell S to center the shell roughly on header I-I. Thereafter, during the indexing operation from the third to the fourth station, jaws l0 are opened, then closed again, and iinally adapter '|2 is raised very slightly so as to press header I-I rmly into abutment with shell S. When shell S is thus held at a denite level by closed jaws I0, the stem chuckand-support 3| is allowed to drop slightly between stations Il and 5 to space shell S slightly above header I-l'.. Rotation of the spindles and ring are then commenced. By virtue of key 56 (Fig. 2) drive is transmitted not only to ring 52 but also to shaft 3|, having a keyway therein, for driving the two chucks in perfect synchronism,

This is an additional advantage of supporting both chucks from one end of the shell-and-stem assembly.

From the fth station until the twelfth, various burners are brought tov bear on the edges of the shell and the header so as to preheat them and ultimately to fuse their edges. Preheating names are optionally brought to bear on the bottom of header H, to minimize internal strains. By the time any spindle reaches station I3 the edges of shell S and header H have already been fused. Roller II4 reciprocates vertically under cam follower III) of the header support, thereby to move the fused edge of the header into contact with the soft edge of the shell, forming the seal, and promptly thereafter to allow cam follower IIEl to drop so as to stretch the seal. This reciprocation is of the order of 116 of an inch, and is achieved by the mechanism in Fig. 6. Roller II4 is carried at one end of lever IIB which is pivoted at its center and at its opposite end by turnbuckle I I8 constituting an adjustable link between lever IIB and cam follower |20 of rotary cam I22. During those intervals when the turret is at rest with a spindle at station I3, cam |22 is rotated once to make the seal and to stretch the seal.

During the travel of a spindle from station I3 to station I5, the seal is allowed to cool. A rise in cam 68, between stations I4 and I5 causes jaws Ill to be retracted from shell S. Thereafter the sealed envelope is carried upward rapidly, and during the slow, nalelevation of adapter 12, exhaust tube grippers 8I are released to allow removal of the product.

The chucks described cooperate to constitute the spindle of an improved sealing machine, but it will be recognized that they may also be separately useful in other sealing machines and in other combinations.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for making a glass seal between a stem and a coaxially assembled shell compris ing a stem chuck carried by a vertical shaft for supporting a stem from below at a predetermined flame level during heating intervals, a shell chuck having jaws extending above the name level and supported below that level, and means for axially shifting one of said chucks so that said stem chuck extends out of said shell chuck, on a carrier mounted coaxially with Said shaft.

2. A machine for making a glass seal between l a pair of coaxially supported parts which includes a spindle having a pair of coaxial chucks and telescopic chuck supports, a carrier for moving said spindle between heating and sealing positions, a drive for rotating one of said supports, a splined connection between said supports for causing unitary rotation of both shafts while allowing relative axial travel, and cam means associated with said carrier and, operating a follower coupled to one of said supports for holding the parts to be joined in slightly spaced-apart relation at some of said heating positions and for moving the parts together to form a seal and then stretching the seal at said sealing positions.-

3. An arrangement for holding a pair of parts in coaxial arrangement one under the other including a first chuck for holding one of said parts, a second chuck for holding the other of said parts, said second chuck being mounted coaxially beneath said first chuck and having arms adapted to embrace said iirst chuck and grasp said other part above said first chuck and means for shifting one chyck axially with respect to the other to a position such that said rst chuck protrudes above the jaws of said second chuck.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said chucks are supported for rotation about a single axis.

5. An arrangement asV set forth in claim 3 wherein said chucks are supported for rotation about a single axis and keyed together for unitary rotation. f Y

STANLEY J. GARTNER.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,474 Miller July 3, 1888 396,035 Felt Jan. 8, 1889 1,390,627 Lindahl Sept. 13, 1921 1,453,594 Mitchell et al. May 1, 1923 1,475,192 Marshall NoV.'27, 1923 1,547,706 Whitmore et al. .July 28, 1925 1,572,631 Whitmore et al. Feb. 9, ,1926 1,942,042 Zimber et al Jan. 2, 1934 2,023,628 VanSant Dec. 10, 1935 2,477,332 Garbe July 26, 1949 

